President Trump was at a rally last evening in South Carolina and called out the Democrats for politicizing the outbreak of the coronavirus. Trump called the effort “their new hoax.”
It was push-back following a week of gas-lighting by the Democrats, primarily through its media wing.
And to essentially prove his point, the media flat-out lied, claiming the president called the coronavirus a “hoax.”
Here’s the quote in question:
“Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus. We did one of the great jobs, you say ‘How’s President Trump doing?’ They go, ‘Oh, not good.’ They have no clue. They don’t have any clue. They can’t even count their votes in Iowa,” said Trump.
“One of my people came up to me and said, ‘Mr. President, they tried to beat you on Russia. That didn’t work out too well. They couldn’t do it. They tried the impeachment hoax. That was on a perfect conversation. They tried anything. They tried it over and over. They’ve been doing it since you got in. It’s all turning.
“They lost, it’s all turning. Think of it, and this is their new hoax.’
“We did something that’s been pretty amazing. We have 15 people in this massive country and because of the fact that we won early, we could’ve had a lot more than that. We’re doing great. Our country is doing great. We are so unified.”
The context is crystal clear. Trump was referencing the efforts to smear his administration for mishandling the virus.
For example in this tweet dated Tuesday, February 25, Trump called out the “Democrats talking point.”
….Democrats talking point is that we are doing badly. If the virus disappeared tomorrow, they would say we did a really poor, and even incompetent, job. Not fair, but it is what it is. So far, by the way, we have not had one death. Let’s keep it that way!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2020
In this clip, before departing to the rally in South Carolina, Trump boasted of his actions to fight the virus. Clearly, he does not think the coronavirus is a hoax.
President @realDonaldTrump on coronavirus: I made a very important decision and that was to close our country to a certain area of the world that was relatively heavily infected. pic.twitter.com/Yx1dNPyHjn
— PolishPatriot™️ (@PolishPatriotTM) February 28, 2020
Also, don’t forget way back in early February, Trump closed off travel from China and was criticized by the very same people who now say he’s not doing enough.
Coronavirus is the intersection of 3 issues @realDonaldTrump has been right about all along: border control, American manufacturing, China hawk. Boom, boom, boom. Proven right again!
While Dems were outraged about him shutting down air travel from there he was right there too.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 25, 2020
2 competing convos over Coronavirus in US politics/media:
The Trump admin & GOP talking about efforts to contain & eradicate Coronavirus.
Dems & media hallucinating w/hopes the virus comes in contact w/ already widespread Trump Derangement Syndrome! https://t.co/HtSWs3d08z
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 28, 2020
During the Democrat Party’s debate this week, several candidates criticized the readiness of the Trump administration.
This was false. And even the AP called them out on the statements.
Is there no issue serious enough that politicians won’t make false claims about it for political benefit? https://t.co/4mBov3MkGE
— Brit Hume (@brithume) February 27, 2020
Then a columnist from the NY Times suggested that the virus be renamed to Trumpvirus, which naturally started trending on Twitter.
i’m starting to get the feeling that you all don’t actually believe this pandemic is as serious as you say it is. pic.twitter.com/dm5TCYYHNL
— 𝚒’𝚖 𝚊 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚜𝚊𝚛 (@BecketAdams) February 27, 2020
For the next 48 hours it was wall to wall negative headlines, stories, and chyrons that blamed a virus from China on Trump – who happens to want to decouple from the communist country, bring manufacturing back stateside, and close the borders.
TRUMP: Restricting travel slowed the spread of the coronoavirus.
MEDIA: Not good enough!!!! You didn’t do enough!!!
9TH CIRCUIT: We order the borders be reopened for 25,000 illegals.
MEDIA: Yayyyy!!!!!!!!!!
Our media is evil and wants Americans to die because Orange Man Bad.
— John Ocasio-Nolte (@NolteNC) February 29, 2020
It’s disgusting that people like you are cheering for a pandemic. https://t.co/hNMHgWe3Rf
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) February 27, 2020
Guys, I think they’re rooting for the virus pic.twitter.com/cFWnZqcPcU
— Elizabeth Harrington (@LizRNC) February 29, 2020
So after days and days of Democrat media lies, Trump rightfully called the NARRATIVE a “hoax” (see Debate distortions, AP fact check, NY Times’ new nickname, Twitter hashtag, etc).
If you are pushing the narrative that Trump called coronavirus a “hoax,” you’re lying.
It’s pretty obvious what he’s saying here. pic.twitter.com/RlSoJ8ZSb8
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) February 29, 2020
Initially, even The Hill – a leftwing website – got the headline correct (before the hoax went viral).
The Hill’s headline here is accurate
He did not call coronavirus a hoax, as far-left hacks, charlatans, and Politico are claiming https://t.co/MeYinRKI0H
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 29, 2020
Then a far-left Vox activist named Aaron Rupar (who is known for spreading lies) started this new “hoax.”
He literally does not say that https://t.co/cXc9sy5UY0
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 29, 2020
MSNBC was the first of the MSM to go with the hoax:
And a new lie is born https://t.co/6WRLGCjrQm
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 29, 2020
It then got picked up by the MSM writ large:
This is a complete, total lie from one of the Left’s legendary bullshitters. This clown 🤡 has always been allergic to the truth but he’s taken his lying to the next level in the Trump era. This is categorically false and it’s another embarrassing fake news moment. 👇🏻👇🏻 https://t.co/tmmoAmKoyE
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) February 29, 2020
Everyone from Bill Kristol to Ted Lieu is spinning this as if Trump was saying that the corovirus itself is a hoax. Even Politico is jumping in. “At what point does this constitute a disinformation campaign, as opposed to media spin?” is a question we should all be asking. pic.twitter.com/HNDQUKvGhs
— Jeff Giesea🦚 (@jeffgiesea) February 29, 2020
The new hoax (the one that falsely claims Trump called Coronavirus a hoax) seems to mostly infect artists, especially writers. I haven’t yet seen an engineer, scientist, or lawyer get infected. #Hoax8
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) February 29, 2020
Trump was asked about it at today’s press conference and slammed the suggestion, stating, “The hoax is on them.”
President Trump confirms he was talking about the Democrats
“The hoax is on them” pic.twitter.com/zEu50PW9hB
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 29, 2020
Bonus: Here’s the same gas-lighting media, claiming Dr. Fauci has been “muzzled” as he literally stands next to the president. Fauci jumped to the mic and said, “I’ve never been muzzled and I’ve been doing this since Reagan.”
🚨VIDEO🚨
A reporter just asked President Trump: Why have you been muzzling Doctor Fauci?
“I’ve never been muzzled and I’ve been doing this since Reagan.” Doctor Fauci responded. pic.twitter.com/qqqavAT4GR
— Francis Brennan (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@FrancisBrennan) February 29, 2020
Reporter to President Trump: Why have you been muzzling Doctor Fauci?
Dr. Fauci: I’ve never been muzzled and I’ve been doing this since Reagan.
Oof.
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) February 29, 2020
This press conference is insane. Two questions for Trump about him using the term “hoax,” none for Anthony Fauci or the CDC director about how COVID-19 could spread through US.
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) February 29, 2020
